Impulse Training (IT) enhances the neural system’s performance and coordination. We’ve developed a philosophy for maximizing the neural learning experience throughout all Impulse exercise regimes. Thus, maximizing the transfer of skills learned in the exercise to performance on the field of play. Applied from the start, this greatly improves progress and subsequent real life performance. The goal of Impulse exercise is to develop beautiful, efficient, powerful motion.

Stance:The most important aspect of an IT regime is stance. Stance is where and how the feet are placed on the ground. This governs the body’s posture during exercise. Stance affects the vestibular (balance) mechanisms and, therefore, core stability (am I vertical or leaning toward one side or the other?). Pay close attention to foot placement, width, and weight distribution on each foot. IT should be preformed with about 80% body weight on the balls of the feet (the heel will just barely be on the ground with about 20% body weight distribution). Feet should be parallel with a neutral stance of 11 inches apart or less. If staggered front to back, the parallel alignment of the feet should be less than 11 inches. Progressing to more challenging exercise will involve a narrower stance such as heel to toe or foot in line. A good stance will naturally load core muscles, stabilizing while challenging balance.

Posture:Posture is the alignment of bones from the floor through the top of the head and governs the efficiency of energy flow. Lost posture is lost energy flow. Pay particular attention to neck, upper back, and lower back alignment. In general, extending the head as high above the shoulders as possible will produce excellent posture. Stand tall.

Exercise repetition should be accomplished with excellent form, flow, and beauty of motion in mind. As the body fatigues, the mind will convince the body that posture is not important and motion will become ugly. Learning to maintain proper head position and posture while fatigued is an important benefit of IT. Focus on excellent posture from the first repetition to the last in each exercise, especially during fatigue.

Target:Select a specific target in line with the force direction of the IT exercise. Target is the ultimate destination of where energy is projected. Imagine throwing a ball at a bottle. The bottle is the target. Targeting sets the body for natural neural learning, redirecting the brain from conscious control of body motion to goal oriented control of stance and posture. Targeting requires a firm foundation which means stability. Excellent core stability can only be developed with excellent posture. Excellent posture requires proper stance. Therefore targeting is secondary to stance. In functional and efficient motion, muscles work best after a target in space has been acquired. Moving the body with a target in mind is essential in developing confidence in motion. Confidence is the key to finding new talent.

As exercise progresses, and fatigue sets in, the mind will forget about the target. The result is a loss of stance, posture, balance and ultimately the goal of the exercise. Without balance there is no functional activation. Focusing on a target will teach posture and balance during increased levels of fatigue.

Activation:This is the acceleration of muscle contraction. The energy involved is constantly changing. Understanding energy needs for efficient motion control is critical in any physical activity. Excessive energy output, too soon, will cause loss of stance and posture, disrupting energy flow. Too little energy, and there is no motion. The purpose of IT is to create higher levels of energy throughout the entire regime. This develops an instinctive knowledge of energy needed to complete the exercise session.

Judgment of energy reserves is generally incorrect (a natural human phenomenon). Proper activation with IT will develop an understanding of true energy levels. This new knowledge will help in governing future aggressiveness in muscle activation. Each repetition should be performed with enough energy to accomplish at least two repetitions per second throughout the entire exercise. In general, go as fast as possible while maintaining stance and posture. When fatigue challenges control of posture or targeting slow down just enough to regain control. Do not sacrifice posture or target for activation. If necessary exercise slower than the two repetitions per second as posture and target are essential to the experience. As time progresses, greater power and energy management potential will develop. Ultimately stance, posture, and targeting will become more manageable. Energy levels can be controlled throughout the exercise.

Release:Release is the transition from muscle acceleration to deceleration, the antithesis of activation. Energy cannot go from one place to another if it is not released. An improper release wastes energy, creating a loss of stance, posture, and target. Activation will be inhibited because balance is destroyed. Release should always be a controlled smooth transition away from activation preparing for the next repetition.

As fatigue sets in, poor release control will manifest itself without warning. The symptoms are a desire to change stance, posture, and targetingand are important to recognize with IT. Fatigue of both mind and body creates a desire to prematurely let go of energy and rest. Developing the maturity to control release while fatigued is crucial in the development of beautiful, powerful, and efficient motion. Seek smooth, controlled flow in the release.

STAR- The foundation of an excellent training and conditioning experience.

If it looks beautiful, then it is. If it looks ugly, it is not Impulse.